Oct. 30, 2007

2007-08 Atlantic 10 Women's Previews
By: Rich Fisher, A-10 Correspondent

It just keeps getting better for the Atlantic 10 women.

In 2005-06, the conference enjoyed one of its most successful seasons.

For an encore , it had an even more impressive campaign in 2006-07.

So the logical question is, could there be a second encore, even better than the year before?

Don't bet against it.

Coming off a season in which the league earned five postseason bids for the second straight year - including three to the NCAA Tournament - A-10 teams combine to return 43 starters. Seven squads have four starters returning, including a George Washington team that reached the regional semifinals before falling to North Carolina.

GW is, in fact, picked to defend its conference title as it garnered all 17 first-place votes in the preseason coaches/media poll. Charlotte and Xavier are expected to battle for second, while Temple, Richmond, St. Joe's and UMass round out the top seven.

The Colonials also lead the way in first-team preseason All-Conference picks, as center/forward Jessica Adair and guard Kimberly Beck are first-team selections, along with Temple center Lady Comfort, Xavier forward Amber Harris and La Salle forward Carlene Hightower.

The conference also returns five of its top 10 scorers, six of its top 10 rebounders, seven of its top 10 field goal percentage leaders and the top six steals leaders. Also back is an Honorable Mention All-American.

Did someone request yet another encore?

Here's a look at how each team shapes up.

CHARLOTTE
A new baton will be directing the show, but the members of the symphony remain pretty much the same.

Karen Aston takes over as the 49ers' head coach and inherits 10 letterwinners from last year's WNIT team that finished 19-13 (9-5, A-10, 4th place).

Highlighting the returnees are All-Atlantic 10 selections Sabrina Gregory, a senior guard, and Danielle Burgin, a junior forward. Gregory led the team in scoring (14.3 ppg.), assists (139) and steals (70). She needs 52 points to become the 15th 1,000-point scorer at Charlotte. Burgin averaged 11 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds per game.

"I think Danielle Burgin has to have a good year," Aston said. "That's not to put pressure on her but she has to be a presence in the paint for our team.

"Leadership has to continue to be as good as it's been so far since I've been there. And the other piece of it is depth. We have some players that are now sophomores that can really take the load off Danielle and contribute heavily. Our team will be more balanced than they were last year."

Also back is junior guard Traci Ray, who set a school season record with 73 three-point field goals. Senior guard Whitney Hoey had seven double-figure scoring games before missing the last seven due to injury. Junior forward Tyhiesha Smith missed most of last year with a knee injury but returns to give the 49ers an experienced wing player.

Guard Wendy Stywalt, an A-10 third-team selection, and fellow sophomores B.J. Cade, Aysha Jones, Erin Floyd and Ashley Spriggs round out the returnees. Newcomers feature Northern Colorado transfer Jabrenta Hubbard, a sophomore guard, and redshirt freshman forward Kelsey McAdoo. As a new coach, Aston feels she benefited by the team's trip to the World University Games in Bangcock over the summer.

"That was a learning experience for them and me, and probably more than anything, gave them a chance to learn my system and gave me a chance to learn their personalities," Aston said. "That's a big advantage there, as far as getting to know each other.

"It helped with just little things. With me, being a new head coach you don't realize how many things there are. Game management, who gets the balls out for practice. All that stuff, everything is new."

DAYTON
Jim Jabir's squad lost 10 games by single digits last year and, during a seven-game losing streak in December, the losses were by an average of 3.7 points.

The good news for the Flyers (12-19, 6-8, 9th) is that four starters return with ample experience in tight games. Leading the way is senior forward Nikki Oakland, who finished third in the conference with 49 blocks, led the team with 6.7 rebounds per game and was second in scoring (11.5).

Five other seniors who have been part of the Flyers' resurgence are swingman Brittany Holterman and guards Kathy Guin, Karah Cloxton, Kiki Lund and Ashley Armstrong. Guin, in her first season with the Flyers, led in assists (86) and hit two game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointers. Lund is fourth on the Flyers' career three-point accuracy list, and Armstong is the team's best perimeter shooter.

Sophomores Kendel Ross and center Kelly Keil made strides last season. Ross played with the Canadian National Team for the third straight summer and Keil set a school freshman record with 28 blocks. Kristin Daugherty, a two-time Ms. Ohio selection, and Ebony Gainey highlight the freshman class.

DUQUESNE
Suzie McConnell-Serio is coaching college for the first time, but she's still at home. And she's ready for some home improvements.

A Pittsburgh native and newly elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, McConnell-Serio was one of the most successful high school coaches in Pittsburgh history and also served as head coach for the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. She inherits a program that has endured three straight losing seasons and went 7-20 (2-12, 13th) last year.

Junior point guard Kristi Little leads the returnees after averaging 8.3 points, 3.52 assists and 2.28 steals. Also back are senior guard Jocelyn Chandler (8.6 ppg.) and senior forward Jade Singleton (4.9).

Sophomore guard Keri Pryor burst on the scene last year by averaging 10.3 points and 6.1 rebounds in 10 games before suffering a season-ending illness. Sophomore center Amanda Peck and sophomore forward Jade Singleton also return. The Dukes will look for help from incoming guards Kelly Britcher and Lauren Reinshuttle and forward Magdalena Jennings. Britcher was her high school's all-time leading scorer and Reinshuttle averaged 17.2 points her senior year.

FORDHAM
For the second straight year, nametags might be suggested at the Rams' preseason practices.

Fordham has experienced a second consecutive big roster turnover as Cathy Andruzzi's squad has just three returnees from a team that went 3-25 (1-13, 14th), along with eight newcomers.

Fordham does have an ironwoman back, as senior guard Beth Trout led the A-10 in minutes per game (38.8) while finishing second on the team in scoring (9.0) and rebounding (4.4). Also back is Annie Zopf, who was third in scoring (8.1) and rebounding (3.9) and second in assists (68). Sophomore guard Gina Giambanco is also returns.

To bolster the frontcourt, Fordham will rely heavily on junior college transfers Kassie Humphries, Takita Earl and Carissa Morrill. Humphries and Earl helped Rend Lake to the finals of the Region 24 championship and Morrill led the Jayhawk Community College Conference in blocks with 65 at Independence CC.

Megan Mahoney highlights an incoming freshman class after averaging 17.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Raina Spencer should also contribute, while Kristina Bell, Kyara Weekes and Alexandria Zamora round out the freshmen.

GEORGE WASHINGTON
The 2006-07 season was one worth repeating, but with four starters and 12 letterwinners back, that might not be the case. It might be even better.

"On paper, yeah," says coach Joe McKeown. "We have a lot of people back from a team that was in the Top 10. Trying to get that into another year, get everybody on the same page, is probably our biggest challenge."

A year after reaching the Sweet 16, the Colonials (28-4, 14-0, 1st) are bolstered by the return of Honorable Mention All-America senior guard Kimberly Beck. A finalist for last year's Nancy Lieberman Award, the versatile Beck averaged 11.3 points and had 171 assists and 74 steals. She is trying to become the only other player besides Penn State's Suzie McConnell - now the Duquesne coach - to lead the league in assists for four straight seasons.

Also in the backcourt is senior Sarah-Jo Lawrence, who led the team with 13.4 ppg. and was second-team All-Atlantic 10. Juniors Lisa Steele and Faith Peters provide depth on the wing and sophomore Stefani Munro and freshman Erica Rivera back up Beck.

First-team All-Conference pick Jessica Adair (12.9 ppg., 7.6 rpg.) returns up front along with three-year starter Whitney Allen, who was second on the team in rebounds and blocks and a member of the A-10 All-Defensive team. Junior Jazmine Adair is the prime candidate to replace Kenan Cole's spot in the starting lineup.

Despite the high expectations of being picked to win the league, McKeown is not worried about pressure.

"I think it's more self-imposed than anything else," he said. "The national expectations when you get to the final 16, when you're in the Top 20 all year, people know who you are. Our program has been to 15 NCAA Tournaments. It's more, `How good do we want to be every day?' It's not what other people think. It's more about the people in practice every day, people that have become your built-in family. It's more what we expect from each other every day."

"Staying healthy is a big key, and letting everybody understand this is our goals, and to really get your seniors to take over your team and say `OK, this is it for us.' A lot of my seniors have been three and four year starters, so, they look at this year as `This is our time.'"

LA SALLE
Coming off their best season in over a decade, the Explorers (19-11, 7-7, T-6th) will turn to their four returning seniors to provide points after La Salle lost two of its top three scorers.

Tom Lochner's squad brings back its leading scorer in Carlene Hightower (17.5 ppg.), who was second on the team in rebounds (7.1 rpg.) and first in steals (72). Hightower became just the third Explorer to collect at least 500 points and 200 rebounds. Other returning starters are senior forward Melanie Gibbons, a strong low post defender, and junior point guard Tara Lapetina, who led the team with 103 assists. The trio of returning starters helped La Salle to seven straight wins for just the second time in La Salle's 35-year history.

Seniors Alyse Hoover and Meghan Ahl, both role players in 2007, could earn starting spots this year. Hoover looks to be a perimeter threat after hitting 14 three-pointers last year.

Also trying to add some scoring are sophomores Jamie Walsh and Morgan Robertson, junior transfer Margaret Elderton, redshirt freshmen Chelsea Conner and Shelly Szmyt and true freshman Ashley Gale.

MASSACHUSETTS
The Minutewomen saw a strong finish suddenly become a disappointing one, but with four starters returning, things might be strong from start to finish.

UMass (17-13, 7-7, T-6th) won six of its last seven last year, but then lost a 16-point second-half lead to St. Bonaventure in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Championship. Hoping to have learned from the experience are returning starters Kate Mills, Pam Rosanio, Alisha Tatham and Kim Benton.

Mills, a senior forward, led the team with 16.1 points per game and averaged 6.9 rebounds while blocking a team-high 64 shots Rosanio, a senior guard, needs 12 points to join Mills in the 1,000-point club after averaging 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. Senior guard/forward Tatham (6.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg.) and sophomore guard Kim Benton, who had 50 three-pointers, will also lend their experience.

Coach Marnie Dacko welcomes the largest incoming recruiting class in her five years at UMass. It includes Wabash Valley College transfer Jene'e Jemison, a sophomore forward/center, along with freshmen Valerie Avebe, Stephanie Lawrence, Cerie Mosgrove and Teya Wright. Mosgrove averaged 21 points and 14 rebounds as a high school senior.

RHODE ISLAND
She only stands 5-6, but Safi Mojidi is being counted on to carry a heavy load this year.

It's not like she hasn't done it before.

In her first three seasons, Mojidi has been an All-Rookie selection as a freshman and All-Conference pick the next two years. She ranks sixth in Rhode Island (6-23, 4-10 T-11th) history with 1,222 career points and averaged teams highs of 15.9 points, 3.76 assists and 2.0 steals last year.

But Mojidi is hardly the only veteran as Rhode Island has nine experienced returnees on the roster. The offense will run through Mojidi, who will be supported in the backcourt by returning starter Mia Marcus, along with senior LaQuanda Brandon, junior Amanda McGrew and sophomore Lindsey Harris. McGrew is a proven perimeter threat after averaging 8.9 points and hitting 42 three-point field goals.

Junior swingman Sierra Cooper averaged 5.7 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds last year, and will bolster the frontcourt with senior forward Erin Cournoyer. Centers Tanja Licina and Whitney Hollis are also back, and Rhode Island could get immediate help from transfer Crystal Bellinger (Alabama), JUCO transfers Ebony Evans, Andrea Ibezim and Aija Veiksane, and freshman Megan Shoniker.

RICHMOND
Ask any coach, and they will never turn down a combination of youth and experience.

The Spiders' Michael Shafer has just that, as a balanced freshman class joins forces with four returning starters - only one who is a senior.

Richmond (13-17, 7-7, T-6th) is led by fifth-year senior Christina Campion, last year's leading scorer (10.4 ppg.) who was second on the team in assists (70) and tied for second in rebounds (5.1 rpg.). Campion is three points shy of 1,000 points.

Other returning starters are junior guard Johanna McKnight, sophomore guard Kara Powell and sophomore forward Nikita Thomas. McKnight (8.5 ppg., 4.4 rpg.) provides game-breaking ability at both ends of the floor while Powell will look to grow into a leader after averaging 8.1 points and 3.2 assists. Thomas led the team with 6.2 rebounds per game.

Shafer is also counting on his five newcomers to make an immediate impact. Crystal Goring, originally a member of Richmond's 2005-06 recruiting class, rejoins the Spiders for the upcoming campaign. She was the Prep "A" Player of the Year in 2005 as well as a USA Today first-team All-American and Street & Smith second-team All-American. She was regarded as one of the top five recruits in the nation in 2005. Kelley Flynn and Brittani Shells could bring instant offense to the team, while Rebecca Kretchman will step in and contribute on both ends of the floor. Lindsay Melone joins the team as a walk-on.

ST. BONAVENTURE
It could be time to get excited about basketball in upstate New York, as nine veterans return from the Bonnies' first winning team in eight years. St. Bonaventure (16-15, 5-9, 10th) also won its first A-10 Championship game with a 63-60 decision over Massachusetts.

Leading the returnees is versatile senior point guard Priscilla Edwards, who paced the team in assists (117), steals (39) and blocks (18) while finishing third in scoring (9.0) and fourth in rebounds (4.8).

The frontcourt should be a strength behind sophomore Dana Mitchell and junior Ashley Edwards. Mitchell, a third-team All-Conference preseason selection this year, led the team in scoring (13.1 ppg.) and field goal percentage (.528). The Bonnies were 12-10 with her in the starting lineup. Ashley Edwards led the team in rebounding (7.4) for the second straight year and had 10 or more boards in nine games.

Rounding out the veterans are backcourt players Katelyn Murray, a starter last season, Megan Ellis, Maripier Malo and Katelyn Murray and forwards Andrea Doneth, Erica Schiefen and Iben Soltau.

The veterans should get some help from four newcomers - JUCO transfer Tiara Johnson and freshmen Amanda Johnson, Cara Gustafson and Armelia Horton all figure to make an immediate contribution.

SAINT JOSEPH'S
The Hawks need to replace some firepower, as they lost their top three scorers, but it's obvious the program is back on the upswing.

Last season, Saint Joseph's (19-14, 8-6, 5th) earned a berth in the WNIT for the fourth time in five years, reached the Atlantic 10 Championship title game and defeated a Top 10 team for the first time in over a decade.

And while the brunt of this year's team is underclassmen, they are hardly inexperienced.

Sophomore forward Brittany Ford went from a four-point scorer in the regular season to averaging over 13 points in the A-10 Championship. Junior guard Jenna Loschiavo (8.0), the team's top returning scorer, finished among A-10 leaders in three-pointers (71) and three-point percentage (39.7).

Senior guard Amy Wold returns after suffering a season-ending injury seven games into the season, and joins junior Mary Kate McDade and sophomore Amy Gillespie in competing for a starting role. Krista Hutchison, a 6-3 senior, and Ashley Logue will battle for time in the middle.

A recruiting class of forwards Sarah Acker, Dominique Bryant and Alexis Johnson, and guards Kallie Hovatter and Laren Robinson, is ranked in the Top 30 by Blue Star Basketball Index.

SAINT LOUIS
If the Billikens make the same strides this season as they did last year, a pretty good record lies in wait.

Coach Shimmy Gray-Miller guided Saint Louis to a 13-17 record (4-10, T-11th) last year after a 7-20 mark the previous campaign. Another six-win jump puts the Billikens within sniffing range of 20, and that could happen with four of their top five scorers returning. Considering all four are sophomores, the future looks bright.

Leading the returnees is guard Theresa Lisch, who led the team in scoring (15.0 ppg.) and assists (86) and was second in steals (52) en route to A-10 All-Rookie honors. Lisch's 125 free throws was a school record and she made 83.3 percent from the stripe.

Also back is forward Maggie Hennegan, who led the team with 7.4 rebounds and averaged 10.5 points. Center Amanda Kemezys battled through a foot injury to average 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds, and guard Katie Paganelli finished third in scoring at 13.8 ppg.

Rounding out the returnees are Amy Klotz, a starter late in the season last year, Hayley Leake, Jackie Gilbert and Jameela Haynes. Junior forward Heather King returns after missing last year with a foot injury, and incoming freshmen Hope Elam and Lauren Woods were Illinois All-State picks last year.

TEMPLE
Continuing to serve as feeder to the pros, Temple lost the A-10's top player to the WNBA for the second straight year. But six others are back to try and help the Owls (25-8, 13-1, 2nd) to a fifth straight NCAA appearance.

For the time being, coach Dawn Staley is happy to have her team lying in the weeds, waiting to pounce.

"The key for us, always, is to outwork our opponent," Staley said. "We've done that for the most part, but this particular season we've added some skill to our team and although we're young I think we'll surprise a lot of people. We'll continue to play the underdog roll, we're relishing that role."

Three starters return, including two All-Conference selections - sophomore center Lady Comfort and sophomore guard Lakeisha Eaddy. Comfort was the A-10's Most Improved Player after ranking second on the team in scoring (12.7 ppg.) and rebounding (6.8 rpg.) and leading in blocks (35) and field goal percentage (53 percent). Eaddy became the first freshman in the seven-year Staley era to start every game, and she led the team in assists (116) while finishing second in steals (52) and fourth in scoring (6.7 ppg.).

Also back is junior forward Shenita Landry, who averaged 5.7 rebounds and emerged as a defensive force.

Seniors Ashley Morris, Nicole Pittman and Candice Borrows provide a veteran presence, while sophomores Alesha Harris and Kristie Watkins-Day will look for expanded time.

A talented incoming class features JUCO transfer Shanea Cotton, and freshmen Lindsay Kimmel, Dawnnae Roberts, Shaqwedia Wallace and Marli Bennett. It's a lot of new faces to mold, but Staley feels it can be done.

"We're a very disciplined basketball team," she said. "You won't see us play unorganized basketball. When you're organized, it puts you in a position to be predictable with your teammates and know exactly what you'll get from them."

XAVIER
Judging by the return of just five players, the Musketeers appear to be disguising themselves as a rebuilding team.

But when the lone returning starter is sophomore forward Amber Harris, that's a pretty good nucleus to build quickly around. Harris helped pace the Musketeers (26-8, 11-3, 3rd) to the Atlantic 10 Championship title last year by leading the team in scoring (16.3 ppg.), rebounding (8.9 rpg.) and blocked shots (136). Harris set a Xavier career mark for blocks in just one season, and became the third freshman in A-10 history to earn first-team All-Conference honors.

"We have a real young team, but I like our talent," coach Kevin McGuff said. "Early in the season it's going to be a real test for us to develop leadership and develop chemistry to have a great year."

Also back are junior guard Jerri Taylor, who played every game last year, and sophomore guard Alesia Barringer. The two must try to replace a trio of 900-point scorers lost to graduation.

Help is on the way as McGuff has brought in another strong recruiting class, led by consensus prep All-American Ta'Shia Phillips. The 6-6 center averaged 21.6 points, 15.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks in leading Brebeuf Jesuit to an Indiana Class 3A state title. She was rated the No.2 recruit nationally by the Blue Star Index.

Also coming in are Special Jennings, Megan Askew, Aly Byorick and Stephany Johnson.

With so much youth, McGuff is putting a premium on the pre-A10 season in order to develop chemistry.

"It's going to be real key," he said. "We put together as challenging a schedule as we could, with games on the road versus NC State, Florida, Louisville, and at home with Cincinnati, Kansas, Georgia. We have a lot of challenging games.

"I like the talent of our team and I thought we'd be best served through the course of the year by really challenging ourselves early. I really like the team. With no seniors we've got a group that can really grow for a couple of years. I just want to focus on getting better every day, and everything else will take care of itself."